A feature class depicting geographic locations of park Observation Towers with scenic vistas

A feature class depicting geographic locations of park trail heads which intersect public roads.

This is a vector polyline file showing trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). The data was collected using a Trimble Pro XR GPS receiver with a Trimble Compact Dome Antenna and a Trimble Asset Surveyor hand held data logger. The trail system a Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most important man-made recreational features of the Park. This dataset represents the most comprehensive inventory of both locational and attribute information about the trails systems to date and is considered on of the most important base data layers for the Park. As such GRSM staff will strive to the both spatial and attribute information stored within this dataset up to date in order to best reflect the current status of the trails system at the Park Only Trails that are shown on the official park visitor map and/or listed in the park maintenance system are contained in this dataset. Other trails, while known to the park to exist and clearly used for access to permanent features (e.g. cemeteries, overlooks), are not contained in this dataset due to the parks desire to ensure safety of visitors on park trails. These data are formatted for use by park staff in the park 1:24,000-scale topographic map series, and are classified using the "FCSubtype" field, which classifies a trail segment based on primary use.

This is a vector polyline file showing trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). The data was collected using a Trimble Pro XR GPS receiver with a Trimble Compact Dome Antenna and a Trimble Asset Surveyor hand held data logger. The trail system a Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most important man-made recreational features of the Park. This dataset represents the most comprehensive inventory of both locational and attribute information about the trails systems to date and is considered on of the most important base data layers for the Park. As such GRSM staff will strive to the both spatial and attribute information stored within this dataset up to date in order to best reflect the current status of the trails system at the Park Only Trails that are shown on the official park visitor map and/or listed in the park maintenance system are contained in this dataset. Other trails, while known to the park to exist and clearly used for access to permenant features (e.g. cemeteries, overlooks), are not contained in this dataset due to the parks desire to ensure safety of visitors on park trails. These data are formated for use by park staff in the park 1:24,000-scale topographic map series, and are classified using the "FCSubtype" field, which classifies a trail segment based on primary use.

A scenic overlook (also called a viewpoint, vista point, or lookout) in a national park is a designated area—usually along a road, trail, or at a high elevation—where visitors can stop to admire and photograph a particularly beautiful or dramatic landscape.

The installation of gates in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is typically driven by the need for conservation, safety, visitor management, and infrastructure protection. While Great Smoky Mountains National Park generally strive to offer accessible public lands, gates are occasionally necessary to ensure the long-term protection of these treasured spaces and to manage their use effectively.

Bridges include foot, bridle trail, and vehicle bridges of widely varying widths, spans, heights, and types of construction. In the interest of limiting the classifications within this compilation, the less frequent underpass and the minor culvert are embraced within this section. In outward appearance, the bridge calls most importantly for visible assurance of strength and stability. To be entirely successful, it is not enough for the bridge to be functionally adequate within the exact knowledge of the engineer; it must proclaim itself so to the inexact instincts of the layman. In gesture to the lay concept of structural sufficiency, it is pardonable park practice to venture well beyond sheer engineering perfection in the scaling of materials to stresses and strains. The attainment of "the little more" that is so desired by those who would have an eye-appeal scale brought to the slide-rule, is all too rare in park bridges. Rather is there a too prevalent flimsiness, ocular rather than structural. Considerably fewer bridges fail to satisfy by seeming too ponderous for their function. After the attainment of a sufficiency in material pleasing to the eye, the next demand to be made upon bridges would be for variety, avoiding the commonplace at one extreme, and the fantastic at the other. The ranges of use, span and height, and the broad fields of materials, arch and truss forms, local practices—among other variety-making possibilities—promise endless combinations and cross-combinations that could make for such individuality among bridges that none need ever appear the close counterpart of another. This presentation seeks merely to focus on the characteristics that bring to bridges the most promise of compatibility with natural environment. There is elsewhere abundant information, including diagrams, rules and formulae, for the design of structurally enduring bridges. Much more limited is the field of source material that concerns itself with bridges that, by reason of appropriateness to natural environment, truly deserve to endure. There are far too many bridges which, after breaking every commandment for beauty and fitness, seem to have sought to wash away all sins through the awful virtue of permanence. Such penitent bridges should have no place in our parks. The quality of permanence cannot be considered a virtue in itself. Unless every other desirable virtue, big or little, is present, permanence is only a vicious attribute. In general, bridges of stone or timber appear more indigenous to our natural parks than spans of steel or concrete, just as the reverse is probably true for bridges in urban locations or in connection with broad main highways. Probably there are few structures so discordant in a wilderness environment as bridges of exposed steel construction. Too great "slickness" of masonry or timber technique is certain to depreciate the value of these materials for park bridges. Rugged and informal simplicity in use is indisputably the specification for their proper employment in bridges. In no park structure more than bridges is it of such importance to steer clear of the common errors in masonry. Shapeless stones laid up in the manner of mosaic are abhorrent in the extreme. In bridges particularly is there merit in horizontal coursing, breaking of vertical joints, variety in size of stones—all the principles productive of sound construction and pleasing appearance in any use of masonry. The curve of the arch, the size of the pier, the height of the masonry above the crown of the arch are all of great importance to the success of the masonry bridge. Timber bridges may utilize round or squared members to agreeable results. Squared timbers gain mightily in park-like characteristic when hand-hewn. A common fault in bridges is the too abrupt termination of the parapet, railing, or wing wall. These should carry well beyond the abutments. In general disfavor for park use are bridges of the open wood truss type. There seem

BRIDGES IN PARKS include foot, bridle trail, and vehicle bridges of widely varying widths, spans, heights, and types of construction. In the interest of limiting the classifications within this compilation, the less frequent underpass and the minor culvert are embraced within this section.In outward appearance, the bridge calls most importantly for visible assurance of strength and stability. To be entirely successful, it is not enough for the bridge to be functionally adequate within the exact knowledge of the engineer; it must proclaim itself so to the inexact instincts of the layman. In gesture to the lay concept of structural sufficiency, it is pardonable park practice to venture well beyond sheer engineering perfection in the scaling of materials to stresses and strains.The attainment of "the little more" that is so desired by those who would have an eye-appeal scale brought to the slide-rule, is all too rare in park bridges. Rather is there a too prevalent flimsiness, ocular rather than structural. Considerably fewer bridges fail to satisfy by seeming too ponderous for their function.After the attainment of a sufficiency in material pleasing to the eye, the next demand to be made upon bridges would be for variety, avoiding the commonplace at one extreme, and the fantastic at the other. The ranges of use, span and height, and the broad fields of materials, arch and truss forms, local practices—among other variety-making possibilities—promise endless combinations and cross-combinations that could make for such individuality among bridges that none need ever appear the close counterpart of another.This presentation seeks merely to focus on the characteristics that bring to bridges the most promise of compatibility with natural environment. There is elsewhere abundant information, including diagrams, rules and formulae, for the design of structurally enduring bridges. Much more limited is the field of source material that concerns itself with bridges that, by reason of appropriateness to natural environment, truly deserve to endure. There are far too many bridges which, after breaking every commandment for beauty and fitness, seem to have sought to wash away all sins through the awful virtue of permanence. Such penitent bridges should have no place in our parks. The quality of permanence cannot be considered a virtue in itself. Unless every other desirable virtue, big or little, is present, permanence is only a vicious attribute.In general, bridges of stone or timber appear more indigenous to our natural parks than spans of steel or concrete, just as the reverse is probably true for bridges in urban locations or in connection with broad main highways. Probably there are few structures so discordant in a wilderness environment as bridges of exposed steel construction.Too great "slickness" of masonry or timber technique is certain to depreciate the value of these materials for park bridges. Rugged and informal simplicity in use is indisputably the specification for their proper employment in bridges.In no park structure more than bridges is it of such importance to steer clear of the common errors in masonry. Shapeless stones laid up in the manner of mosaic are abhorrent in the extreme. In bridges particularly is there merit in horizontal coursing, breaking of vertical joints, variety in size of stones—all the principles productive of sound construction and pleasing appearance in any use of masonry. The curve of the arch, the size of the pier, the height of the masonry above the crown of the arch are all of great importance to the success of the masonry bridge.Timber bridges may utilize round or squared members to agreeable results. Squared timbers gain mightily in park-like characteristic when hand-hewn. A common fault in bridges is the too abrupt termination of the parapet, railing, or wing wall. These should carry well beyond the abutments.In general disfavor for park use are bridges of the open wood truss type. There seem

Backcountry shelters are structures designed to provide protection and refuge for outdoor enthusiasts in remote areas, such as hikers, campers, climbers, and skiers. These shelters are essential for ensuring safety and comfort in harsh weather conditions or when venturing far from civilization. As of February 2013, Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires a permit and advance reservations for all backcountry camping in the park. Before planning your backcountry trip, please read through important information about reservations and permits, regulations, bear safety, trail closures, and more on our backcountry website. Please direct questions concerning backpacking trip planning to the Backcountry Information Office at 865-436-1297. Phone calls are the preferred method of contact. The information office is open for phone calls daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm (Eastern Time) and in-person service from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. In addition to answering your backpacking questions, the experienced backpackers in the Backcountry Information Office can provide you with tips to make your trip safe and enjoyable. Resources: The park has over 800 miles of trails offering hikers a wide range of scenery including spectacular mountain vistas, rushing streams and waterfalls, historic structures, and quiet groves of old-growth forest. You can download a park trail map to find the location of trails, backcountry shelters, and campsites in the park. In addition, Smokies Life sells a variety of hiking books, maps, and guides to help choose a hiking route and plan your backcountry trip. Smokies Life is a nonprofit organization that supports educational and scientific programs in the park. You can contact the Association online or by phone at 865-436-0120. Regulations: Backpackers and hikers are subject to all Backcountry Rules and Regulations. Failure to abide by park regulations may subject you to a fine under Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations. Maximum fine for each violation is $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail.

The National Park Service (NPS) manages a wide variety of buildings and structures across the United States, each designed to support the preservation of national parks, historical sites, and natural landmarks, while also serving the public. These buildings include visitor centers, historic sites, administrative offices, and specialized structures built for specific purposes, such as ranger stations and maintenance facilities.